# 6 Letter to UK Foreign Secretary, Phillip Hammond re David Fletcher's passport - 'accidentally destroyed' by the British Embassy in Bangkok

Phillip Hammond

Foreign Secretary

Parliamentary House of Commons

London

SW1A                                                                                                             

17^th October 2014

Dear Mr Hammond

re David John Fletcher

This is the 8^th letter I have written to you with, when it comes down to it, one simple question:

“What happened to Mr David Fletcher’s passport whilst in the care of the British Embassy in Thailand between 2010 and 2012 such that it has, effectively, disappeared without trace or explanation?”

Mr Fletcher’s passport contains vital evidence that he needs for his hearing in the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on 27^th October. He requires either his passport or copies of the relevant pages from his passport. These are the pages that deal with his travels in and out of Cambodia during the first four months of 2009. As you are aware, Mr Fletcher claims that he was not in Cambodia at the times on which the alleged rapes took place – 15^th and 22^nd March 2009.

If, for whatever reason, the British Embassy in Thailand is unable to provide Mr Fletcher with either his (now expired) passport or copies of pages from within it, Ambassador Kent should write a letter to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court explaining why and how it is that Mr Fletcher is unable to present this vital piece of evidence in his defense.

Mr Hammond, you and I both know, any sensible person knows, that a passport cannot be ‘accidentally destroyed’ within the secure confines of an Embassy leaving no trace and with no copies made of its pages! The idea is a nonsense! Someone, or some group of people within the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, have seen to it, for their own reasons, that Mr Fletcher’s passport should disappear. And your refusal to answer any questions relating to Mr Fletcher’s passport has all the hallmarks of a cover up!

Ultimately, as Foreign Minister, you are responsible for what is taking place here – a citizen of the UK unable to present evidence in his defense to a Cambodian court in 10 days as a result of its being withheld by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

I believe that the disappearance (the theft!) of Mr Fletcher’s passport should be taken out of the hands of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and placed in the hands of some independent investigative body as a matter of urgency. Only 10 days remain before Mr Fletcher is to appear in court.

I trust, Mr Hammond, that you will give this matter your immediate and undivided attention.

best wishes

James Ricketson